Tldr?

Stock up on HRT as much as you can. If possible, move to an area where your neighbors are staunch allies.

I’ve been trans for a long time in a conservative area. Longer than most posters on here have been alive. Pepper spray has been far better in my experience. It’s tiny, lightweight, and can be brought into pretty much any building (except those with metal detectors). It’s effective at stopping people in their tracks and giving you a chance to get away. Guns are just a hassle in comparison, especially in warmer months. Ain’t nowhere to hide a Glock in a bikini. (I’m a transguy but you get the gist.)

100%. I’ve worked in many places where I had to hide, and so I think I’m still stuck in that mindset.

Nah that’s absolutely valid. I feel lucky to be in a workplace with a union, a gay CEO, and a prominent LGBTQ club that ensures every employee has what they need to succeed. Earlier this year I pointed out that the complimentary gym doesn’t have gender neutral showers and within a week met with the head of the legal dept and head of facilities to figure out how to implement one.

I’ve been talking a lot in therapy recently about how “passing” is becoming a moot concept. That used to be the goal of transition back in my day (2000’s) but nowadays people are just free to pursue whatever their ideal self is regardless of what society deems as “passing”. I struggled with this concept for a long time - I thought, “but what if the people around me know I’m Trans?” and he has been challenging me to question “Why would it matter?”. Sure there’s the obvious concerns of bigotry and violence, but in a safe space such as work or friendship, does it really make a difference?

The times that I can slip into that mindset of not caring whether I pass are the most free I’ve felt in decades. I hope all my transbros and sisters can achieve that.

I had 3 years of twice weekly therapy focused on gender between realizing I’m trans and starting HRT. My timeline is excessive by most standards, but I felt that it was right for me. I wanted to be sure of my intentions and the outcome before taking the leap.

It was an intense exercise of identifying my true self and determining the best steps to get there. 13 years later and I’m still certain that it was the right move.

I’m a transman, hope it’s OK that I replied here.

I had no idea that Greg Abbot was in a wheelchair until this image.

My neopronouns are capitalised, as in Me, You, and They instead of me, you, and they

Why? Tried Googling this and came up empty handed.

This is a shit take.

Not that I don’t believe you, but is there official documentation showing details on the “more policies” mentioned at the end of the letter? I prefer to read policies verbatim.

Where do you see a ban on pride flags? I read the letter published by the House Freedom Caucus and didn’t see mention of flags.

I’ve clawed my way from homelessness to the top 10%, and it took me way too many times in OP’s shoes to learn that the best way to get ahead in one’s career is to get in line. That leaves plenty of time and energy outside of the workplace to pursue passions and try to change the world to become a better place. Work is just a means to afford that.

Now a chunk of my income every month goes directly to an organization that helps local transfolks get access to HRT and other gender-affirming care. That’s far more impactful than anything I could have hoped to accomplish in my workplace.

Succeed in work first, then succeed in life.

Take this as a learning experience. Approach your work with professionalism, not passion. Keep your head down, complete your job duties, and go home. The time+place for pitching ideas is only when you’re asked by someone higher up.

It sucks, but that’s how you stay employed and climb the ladder. Crushing passions for the American dream.

My Shiba is the same. He goes through a stuffed toy in a few hours of pure bliss. We got him an indestructible silicone toy and he plays with it all the time, though, and it has held up for a few months now.

The fuck is Houthis?

There’s 8 billion people in the world and most of them are suffering. Choosing to bring another person into this world for pure vanity is one of the most selfish acts a person can do, as it means that another child will go unloved.

It sounds like your buddies specifically wanted a newborn which led to the difficulty. Why? A three, four, or five year old doesn’t meet their standards?

Source? My buddy adopted last year and had no problem finding an infant for adoption.

Why didn’t they just adopt? There’s 100k+ children waiting to be adopted right now in the US. Why go through all the trouble and effort of surrogacy just to have a biological child? Seems weird to me.